The Royal Orthopaedic Hospital (ROH) has introduced CHAIN (Cycling against Hip Pain), a new cycling programme to support patients with hip pain from osteoarthritis.
Dawn, a patient on the CHAIN programme, commented: “I absolutely loved it. I don’t normally do exercise and it made me push myself to somewhere I didn’t know I could go. Because you’re stretching more you don’t really feel the pain. I’m now looking to find a cycling class closer to home in West Bromwich.”
CHAIN was initially developed by Bournemouth University’s Orthopaedic Research Institute and promotes the self-management of osteoarthritis symptoms through lifestyle change. It is based on the latest National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines for the treatment of osteoarthritis which recommends exercise (specifically muscle strengthening and cardiovascular training), education and weight loss where necessary.
CHAIN is an 8- week programme and takes place at Cocks Moors Woods Leisure Centre in Kings Heath – close to The Royal Orthopaedic Hospital site. It is run by the ROH Physiotherapy Department and a cycling instructor from the leisure centre.
Hayley Jennings, Senior Physiotherapist at the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital, commented: “We’ve been working with Professor Tom Wainwright who developed CHAIN to bring this programme to Birmingham. CHAIN is all about getting patients to make lifestyle changes and learning how to make exercise an enjoyable habit. It’s wonderful to see patients thrive on the programme– we’ve had patients report improved flexibility, less pain, less dependence on pain relief and improved sleep, as well as feeling fitter and stronger, making them better able to complete everyday tasks.”
CHAIN is one of a number of programmes delivered in the community by the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital including a pain management clinic and an art workshop for chronic pain patients.
Hayley adds: “Partnering with community organisations like leisure centres is essential for NHS Trusts like the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital to enhance how we deliver rehabilitation programmes in the community. These partnerships enable more access for patients accessing hospital care, closer to where they are, as well as connecting them to additional services to help their recovery and prevent future muscle and joint problems.”
Each CHAIN session is 1 hour long and consists of cycling and education on self-management. Patients are also provided with an at-home exercise programme to continue after their CHAIN sessions finish.
Natalie Pyatt from the Birmingham Community Leisure Trust, which operates Cocks Moors Woods Leisure Centre, said: “We were delighted to be chosen as the venue for this important rehabilitation initiative. I attended one of the classes myself, so I could see the session from the attendee’s viewpoint. I really enjoyed the mix of practical guidance combined with a low impact cycling workout.
“Feedback from the participants has been very positive, with many already reporting improvements they’ve noticed off the back of coming to the class each week.”
For more information about the programme visit Royal Orthopaedic Hospital - CHAIN (Cycling against hip pain)
CHAIN is proudly funded by the Royal Orthopaedic Charity.
